City’s El Nino Forum Left High and Dry

Call it a washout--El Nino’s first this year in Los Angeles.

That’s what the 11 city disaster experts must have been calling it when they traveled to San Pedro to help residents prepare for the predicted series of winter rainstorms.

Officials were hoping for hundreds of homeowners. But only a handful showed up Wednesday night at Peck Park to learn about sandbags, erosion control and street flooding.

Just 28 adults were scattered around the park’s cavernous recreation center when the traveling team of experts pulled into San Pedro.

And some were more interested in talking about neighborhood speed bumps than storm fronts.

“El Nino? I’m not panicking,” said Tom Letcher, a retired police officer who lives in nearby Harbor City. “The way I look at it, the weatherman can’t tell me what tomorrow’s weather is going to be, let alone whether El Nino’s coming.”

The free public workshop was one of 14 being held across town through the end of November.

Specialists on flooding, street maintenance, public safety, structural protection and other emergency services have been assigned to attend each of the workshops. The idea is for them to offer general advice for battening down the hatches before El Nino storms arrive--and to answer questions about specific problems residents face in their neighborhoods.

Many of those at the San Pedro hearing were scribbling notes as the Fire Department explained what to do if the storm knocks out power (don’t touch tree branches that have blown onto wires), and the Animal Services Department discussed what to with pets if an evacuation is ordered (don’t take animals to the Red Cross shelter).

Lucia Ruta, coordinator of emergency preparedness for the Department of Public Works, asked homeowners to disconnect automatic lawn sprinklers and conserve water indoors when it starts raining. Water conservation is needed because sewer lines are likely to be filled with storm runoff, she said.

Bob Wilson, a Bureau of Street Maintenance supervisor, noted that homeowners can obtain up to 25 free sandbags at city fire stations and maintenance yards. City workers will even deliver sand if three or more neighbors request it, he said.

Steve Ho, a Bureau of Engineering representative, urged that hillside residents, in particular, obtain flood insurance through their own agents or from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Los Angeles residents qualify for a 5% discount, but there is a 30-day waiting period for coverage to take effect, he said.

Officials distributed newly printed pamphlets from the Department of Building and Safety that explain how to use plastic, plywood and sandbags to protect hillsides and divert storm runoff from homes. They also list places where sandbags and sand are available, suggestions for planting ground cover and locations of animal shelters where pets can stay in emergencies.

San Pedro residents Shirley Matijevich and Antoinette Uthoff were appreciative.

“We’ve caulked some of the windows--we’re getting there,” Matijevich said.

“I’ve got my roof fixed and I’ve got my 25 sandbags. All I need is the sand,” Uthoff said.

Michael Gruett, Building and Safety’s emergency management coordinator, said as many as 400 people have attended El Nino workshops that started last month in El Sereno, Sunland, Bel-Air, Los Feliz and Pacific Palisades.

Remaining workshops are planned for Nov. 12 in Northridge, Nov. 13 in Watts, Nov. 17 in Pacoima, Nov. 18 near downtown, Nov. 19 in Westchester, Nov. 20 in Mid-City, Nov. 22 in Highland Park and Nov. 24 in Cheviot Hills.

Times and locations are available on the city’s toll-free winter storm hotline, 1-888-EL NINO1. “I don’t know what the problem was there,” public works spokesman David Mays said of San Pedro’s small turnout. “Maybe it was the beautiful weather we’ve been having.”